Real Madrid have continued to monitor Chema Andres following his move to Brighton and Hove Albion, despite giving up their contractual options to bring the former academy midfielder back to the Santiago Bernabeu.
According to AS, Los Blancos remain attentive to the Spaniard’s development in the Premier League, where he has made an encouraging start to life with Brighton.
The situation is notable because the club no longer holds a buy-back clause, a priority purchase option or any remaining ownership rights over the player after his summer transfer.
Chema’s departure is therefore both a financial success for Real Madrid and the end of the contractual safeguards that would previously have allowed them to influence his future.
Chema Andres transfer earned Real Madrid €11.5 million
The midfielder’s move became one of the more significant transactions involving a former Real Madrid player on the final day of the summer transfer window.
Real Madrid are keeping tabs on Chema Andres. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Chema left Stuttgart for Brighton in a deal worth €23 million, with Madrid entitled to half of the fee because they retained 50% of his rights.
As such, that arrangement delivered €11.5 million to the Spanish club. However, the financial return came at the cost of any remaining contractual leverage over the player.
Notably, Real Madrid did not activate their buy-back clause last summer, and the subsequent transfer to Brighton brought their remaining rights to an end.
As a result, the Premier League club now holds full ownership of Chema and control decisions concerning his future.
Chema makes encouraging start in England
Chema has begun his Brighton career with promising contributions despite operating in a deep midfield role.
Chema Andres is impressing in the Premier League. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
He has accumulated 380 minutes across five appearances, scoring once and providing an assist.
Those early performances have given Real Madrid further reason to follow his progress.
The midfielder is continuing to develop his ability to dictate play and bring structure to his team, qualities that could help determine how far he progresses in English football.
His challenge now is to establish himself at Brighton and maintain his development in a more demanding environment.